Liquid armor
Liquid armor is a material under research by defense institutions and universities around the world including the United States Army Research Laboratory (ARL).[1][2][3] Some of the earliest research in this area was performed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology[4] and University of Delaware[5] in 2003. Liquid armor was initially presented as a way to increase the survivability of soldiers in high risk roles while retaining their mobility, as reported by NPR in an interview with MIT professors and a U.S. admiral.[6]
Typically, it consists of Kevlar that is soaked in one of two fluids - either a shear thickening fluid or a magnetorheological fluid.[7] Both these fluids show the behavior of a non-Newtonian fluid, behaving like a liquid under low or normal pressure and solid under higher pressure or applied fields. The shear thickening fluid is normally made with polyethylene glycol and the solid part is made of nano-particles of silica. This liquid is soaked into all the layers of a Kevlar vest.[8] The magnetorheological fluid consists of magnetic (typically iron) particles in a carrier fluid such as oil. They respond to magnetic fields by increasing in viscosity dramatically, almost acting like a solid.[9]
BAE Systems has been researching a similar Kevlar vest with a fluid between layers of polymer. BAE acquired the US research company Armor Holdings, who were doing research based on suspensions of silica particles.[10][11]
References
[edit]- ^ "Army explores futuristic uniform for SOCOM".
- ^ "How liquid armour 'stops bullets'". BBC News. 9 July 2010.
- ^ "Poland Developing Liquid Body Armor". 18 March 2019.
- ^ "Fluid-filled cellular solids for controlled".
- ^ "Advanced body armor utilizing shear thickening fluids".
- ^ "Special Ops Envisions 'Iron Man'-Like Suit To Protect Troops". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-06-25.
- ^ "How Liquid Body Armor Works". 26 February 2007.
- ^ Johnson, Tonya. "Military.com". Military.com. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ "Iron Man-Like Body Armor for Soldiers in the Works". ABC News.
- ^ Gill, Victoria (9 July 2010). "BBC". BBC News. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ "The Economist". The Economist. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
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